Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Saturday's Forecast
Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
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Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 19th September 2026
Last updated
Fri 18th Sep 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Challenging conditions over high terrain with gale-force winds extensive; feeling notably cold in exposure. Showery rain, most frequent western Scotland. Persistent rain for Wales tends to clear southward and the strongest winds will lessen here.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Gales on mountains all day; showery rain, heavier bursts.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 40 to 60mph, strongest sustained speeds on higher Cairngorms; rising further mainly later in day to more often 60-70mph higher tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking conditions, balance frequently challenged on high exposed terrain, gusts may knock you over. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Showers mostly west
Showery rain most frequent on hills near and west of the A9 corridor, a mix of drizzle and briefly heavier bursts, occasionally hail. More scattered showers toward Lecht and Deeside.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly higher tops with breaks
Banks of cloud confined to higher slopes, lowest toward Ben Alder, 800m for periods. More often above 1000m many areas, lifting further with time, good breaks east.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% west, to 60% east.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun west, longer periods of sun east. Visibility good where dry, slight haze especially west, reduced in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 or 7C, trending slightly cooler later in the daytime. Feeling like -5 to -8C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits. Only a couple of degrees above freezing on highest Cairngorms summits; dipping nearer to freezing into night.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 20th September 2026
Last updated
Fri 18th Sep 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 50mph, to 60mph higher Cairngorms early morning, tending to lessen gradually to 30-40mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions, difficult on higher exposed slopes in morning, significant wind chill; moderating gradually.
How Wet?
A few showers for a time
Brief light showery rain mostly north and western Cairngorms in the morning. Often dry into the afternoon. Rain develops from west into night.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting and clearing many tops
Patchy cloud above 800-1000m in the morning, lowest toward west. Tending to lift and break above many summits, especially in east, but some patches may drift onto western high tops at times.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Broken cloud and sunshine. Visibility very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5 or 6C, little change all day, then tending to rise onward into night. Feeling like -5 to -8C directly in wind.
Freezing Level
Close to freezing on Ben Macdui summit in the morning, later rising well above tops.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Monday 21st September 2026
Last updated
Fri 18th Sep 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West to southwesterly 35 to 50mph, very gusty in places, the strongest gusts not confined to highest summits.
Effect of the wind on you?
Very blustery, affecting ease of walking and knocking you off balance, sudden buffeting gusts in some passes and downslope.
How Wet?
Patchy drizzle mostly west
Some steady rain for a time early in the day, fading to leave patchy light rain and drizzle, most common toward Drumochter; more often dry toward Deeside.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, possible breaks east
Blanket cloud shrouding the hills, foggy from mid-elevations upward much of the time in more western areas. Cloud base higher eastward, clinging to most high tops, but local breaks may emerge.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun mostly, but locally furthest east may break through more often. Misty poor visibility many hills, but locally good below cloud in east.
How Cold? (at 900m)
11 to 13C, small change with added height and little change into night; quite humid, but still feeling near 0C if directly in wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Improving on Sunday as gale-force winds on Scottish mountains gradually lessen and showers become fewer. Warm and humid into early next week, on Monday extensive low cloud and drizzly rain particularly in the west. High pressure to the south will generally dominate the extended outlook particularly for England & Wales with more often drier and warmer conditions through late September into early October. Fine weather likely extends across Scotland for periods too, but a more changeable autumnal mix may continue especially further northwest with rain and stronger winds at times.